# 119-hr-3460: AI Whistleblower Protection Act

119-hr-3460, AI Whistleblower Protection Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3460
- As of: 2026-10-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3460
- Congress: 119
- Title: AI Whistleblower Protection Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-21

## Summary

**Creates legal protections for people who report AI security vulnerabilities or AI-related legal violations.** The bill defines covered AI systems and who counts as a protected worker when they disclose safety flaws, threats to public health or national security, or violations of federal law. - Workers and contractors: Covers employees and independent contractors, including former ones, and bars employers from firing, demoting, suspending, threatening, blacklisting, harassing, or discriminating against someone for lawful disclosures to supervisors, regulators, law enforcement, or Congress. - Enforcement and remedies: Gives whistleblowers a Department of Labor complaint route or a federal civil suit if Labor does not decide within 180 days. Courts can award reinstatement with seniority, back pay equal to twice what is owed with interest, compensatory damages, litigation costs, expert fees, and attorneys' fees. - Employers and contracts: Defines "employer" broadly to include persons engaged in commerce and forbids pre-dispute waivers or arbitration agreements that would block these protections or remedies.

## Cosponsors (9)

- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2] (R-MI), 2025-06-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2026-01-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Sue for AI retaliation with double back pay: benefit, high. You would be able to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. If no final decision comes in 180 days and the delay is not your bad faith, you could sue in federal court, with a jury. If you win, you could be reinstated and get twice your lost pay with interest, plus compensatory damages,…
- Protections for workers reporting AI risks: benefit, medium. This bill would make it illegal for employers to punish you for reporting AI risks or violations. Reports to regulators, law enforcement, the Attorney General, Members of Congress, or a supervisor would be protected. Helping in an investigation or case would also be protected. These protections wou…
- What counts as AI under this bill: benefit, low. The bill would define key terms. It would define artificial intelligence, an artificial system, an AI security vulnerability, and an AI violation, including failing to act on a serious AI danger to safety, health, or national security. It would define who is covered (employees and independent contr…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-3460 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3460)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3460 (as of 2026-10-21).